Chapter Forty-Three: The Ocean Steed

The gunfire finally ceased. The mine owner, smiling, turned to Domlikshava, who had also crawled out from her bed and was watching the battlefield with concern. “The shooting has stopped—the battle is over. Child, you can go back to sleep now. I’m sure you’ll have good news by morning.”

The night wind had flushed Domlikshava’s cheeks. “Really, sir? Are you certain he’s won?”

The mine owner laughed. “Of course. Fighting the Qing, I can’t imagine how we could possibly lose. Go on, get some rest, child.”

Domlikshava turned away, her eyes lingering with longing on the place where the gunshots had echoed. Just as she was about to return, she suddenly saw a group approaching the mine. She hurriedly ran back to the tightly locked iron gate.

Just then, the searchlight swept over the advancing figures, and Domlikshava saw the Russian officer she cared about so deeply. His clothes were torn, filling her with worry.

“Sir, it’s him! He’s here!”

The mine owner’s lips twitched, his Stalin-style moustache cocked upward. “I see him. I imagine he’s come to bring us good news.”

He didn’t immediately open the gate, but called from atop the wall, “General, what was all that gunfire about?”

The officer stopped, looked up, and gave the mine owner a quick smile. “A group of reckless Qing bandits tried to launch a surprise attack on us.”

The mine owner shook his head. “Judging by your clothes, the fighting must have been fierce?”

The officer shrugged. “There were some surprises, but the outcome was still the same. Sir, please open the gate. We’ve captured several bandits. According to their confessions, there may be an important leader among the bandits hiding on your property. He’s crucial—I must interrogate him at once.”

The mine owner suspected nothing. He called down, “Open the gate! Let our troops in!”

As the gate slowly opened, Domlikshava hurried down, leaning against the entrance, her eyes fixed anxiously on the officer. “You know, the moment I heard the gunfire I was terrified for your safety. I prayed for you constantly. Thank heavens—God has heard me.”

The officer suddenly hesitated, his gaze evasive. “Domlikshava—”

“Yes?”

The beautiful girl pressed close to his chest, gazing up at him with wide eyes, like a flower in full bloom waiting to be plucked.

His expression abruptly turned sorrowful, and he began to sob. “I’m sorry—I was afraid they’d kill me.”

Before Domlikshava could comprehend what was happening, she saw, to her horror, one of the men nearby—an Asian—raise his rifle and shoot the mine owner.

At that instant, she understood everything. Her face went pale and she stumbled back. “No! No!”

After shooting the mine owner, Yang Xiaolin waved his hand. “Charge! Kill the foreigners!”

The bandits surged into the mine like wolves. The Russian residents, already asleep, were even slower to react than the soldiers.

Yang Xiaolin, having already pried information from the officer, directed his men to the workers’ barracks, where they flung open the doors and freed the laborers. Biaozi led a dozen men straight to the square, cutting down Erganzi and the others from the posts where they’d been tied.

Erganzi’s body was numb from the cold. As Biaozi released him, he hurriedly took off his own coat and wrapped it around him. “Erganzi, can you hear me?”

Erganzi, shivering uncontrollably, managed to glance at Biaozi. “I heard the gunfire and knew you’d come. You bastard, you’re no brother of mine!”

Despite the insult, Biaozi grinned. If he could curse, he was all right. “Fine, you’re not my brother—you’re my uncle, all right? Come, let’s get you somewhere warm.”

With Biaozi’s support, Erganzi staggered away. The others were freed as well.

Once the laborers were released, the outcome of the battle was no longer in doubt. Thousands of them surged through the mine like a tidal wave, hunting down Russians and the Chinese collaborators who had oppressed them. Anyone found was beaten to death on the spot.

At first, their targets were only the armed Russian overseers. But soon, their rage extended to all Russians living on the premises, men and women alike.

Surrounded by Biaozi and several bandits, Domlikshava could read their intentions in their eyes. Fear seized her—she desperately wished for someone to save her, like a knight from Russian legend: a lone hero, rifle in hand, astride a great steed, would ride into these hateful Chinese bandits, cut them down, scoop her onto his horse, and gallop away to freedom.

But the man she’d once thought her knight now cowered before Chinese guns, unable even to meet her gaze.

Tears streamed down her lovely cheeks. For a moment, she found the courage to shoot; she drew her small pistol and pressed it to her temple, about to pull the trigger when Biaozi snatched it from her hand. “Well, this Russian dame’s got some spirit. I like that! Brothers, how about we all take a ride on this Russian thoroughbred tonight?”

No one objected. To prevent her from trying again, two bandits grabbed her arms and dragged her toward a building.

Domlikshava struggled with all her might, but was no match for these wolves.

Through her tears, she saw a figure rush in, shoving aside the bandit leader and the others ripping at her clothes. It was as if, drowning, she’d suddenly seized a lifeline. Without seeing his face, she scrambled toward him, clutching his leg. But when she looked up, she realized something was wrong. It was Erganzi, pointing a rifle at Biaozi. “She’s mine! Keep your hands off, or I’ll kill you all!”

The other bandits froze in shock. Domlikshava was even more bewildered. Why? Why was her would-be knight, at this crucial moment, a Chinese man?

If anyone else had dared, Biaozi would have exploded in anger. But tonight, he felt he owed Erganzi something, so he backed down, nodding. “Fine, you’re my uncle. Brothers, let’s go find another thoroughbred.”

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